Montreal earns second straight win by clean sheet
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact defeated by clean sheet the Chicago Fire 1-0 in its second home game of the season, Sunday afternoon at Stade Saputo. Substitute and newcomer Omar Browne scored the game’s lone goal in the 83rd minute, after coming on in the first half. Rémi Garde’s men now have completed five clean sheets in their last six games.
“There is rigour in the team,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “The players understood a certain amount of tactical positions that are important. If you concede too many goals in modern football, it’s complicated. It was not necessarily our intention today, but it was difficult to play much quicker than we did.”
The Impact now has 17 points on the season after 10 games (5-3-2) and is tied for first in the Eastern Conference standings, with eight games on the road and two at Stade Saputo.
Few chances in first half
The visitors got the game’s first opportunity in the sixth minute, when a long throw into the box was flicked into Nicolas Gaitan’s path, but his ensuing shot was stopped by goalkeeper Evan Bush. Nemanja Nikolic was first on the rebound, but Bush got up quickly to make another save.
The Impact answered with a chance of its own ten minutes later, when midfielder Clément Bayiha, with space on the right, crossed to the opposite side for Orji Okwonkwo. The Nigerian was able to lay it off for Saphir Taïder, who immediately crossed into the box for Maxi Urruti, but his shot missed just wide of the near post.
Montreal was able to pierce Chicago’s backline again in the 35th minute, when Daniel Lovitz found Okwonkwo in behind the defense, but his cross into the danger area was promptly cleared by a Chicago defender.
Montreal was forced to make a substitution in the 40th minute, when Bayiha went down with an injury, bringing on newcomer Omar Browne. It was the Panamanian’s first start with the Impact since joining the club.
“We feel very confident,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “It’s our second win at home, and both came by clean sheet. It proves that we’re really solid defensively, and when we do get chances, we convert them. There’s a lot of positive to take, but we can’t be satisfied, and we need to continue.”
Debut goal for Omar Browne
The Panama international made his presence felt in the 59th minute, making his way through two defenders near the top of the box before sliding it to Taïder, alone in front of goalkeeper David Ousted, but the play was whistled offside.
Three minutes later, Okwonkwo, once again with space down the left side, cut in and passed to Taïder, who immediately shuffled it to midfielder Samuel Piette, but his shot was way wide.
The Fire had its best chance to grab the go-ahead goal in the 77th minute when Aleksandar Katai was sent into the box from the left side after being picked out by Przemyslaw Frankowski, but his cross toward the small box missed everyone and trickled out of play.
Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 83rd minute, following a nice individual play by midfielder Omar Browne. In possession on Chicago’s goal line, the Panamanian dribbled past his defender before forcing his way on Ousted’s goal. The ball took a deflection off a Chicago defender, and Browne was able to tap it into an empty net for his first MLS goal.
“I’m very happy,” said midfielder Omar Browne. I had a chance to speak with my family after the game as well, and they were also so happy. It’s my first MLS goal, and it just pushes me to want to work harder and get better. I’m happy I was able to help the team win today.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will play a second consecutive game at home on Saturday, May 4, at 5pm against New York City FC (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690) to kick off another busy week, with three games in eight days; Montreal will then face the Big Apple's other team, the New York Red Bulls, at Red Bull Arena on May 8 at 8pm (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690), before visiting FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium for the first time on Saturday, May 11, at 1pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Zakaria Diallo, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Micheal Azira, Saphir Taïder; F-Clément Bayiha (Omar Browne 40’), Maximiliano Urruti (Victor Cabrera 89’), Orji Okwonkwo (Harry Novillo 65’)
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Rudy Camacho, Anthony Jackson-Hamel
CHI – GK-David Ousted; D-Bastian Schweinsteiger, Diego Campos (Cristian Martínez 88’), Johan Kappelhof, Jorge Corrales; M- Aleksandar Katai, C.J. Sapong, Dax, McCarty (Brandt Bronico 88’), Djordje Mihailovic, Nicolás Gaitán; F- Nemanja Nikolic (Przemyslaw Frankowski 75’)
Subs not used – Richard Sánchez, Grant Lillard, Jeremiah Gutjahr, Mohammed Adams
GOAL
MTL – Browne 83’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Sagna 78’
CHI – Kappelhof 90+5’
